The recruiting scene can often seem to quiet down in December. Companies are busy with the admin of year-end and employees are thinking about their holiday plans. HR staff and recruiters are readying themselves for the hectic hiring frenzy of January.
However, there are several reasons why your company shouldn’t be writing off this month. If you take advantage of the less competitive market, you may well be able to hire the perfect candidate, get them onboarded faster, and save money in the process! Read on to find out how.
- Make full use of your recruitment budget
- Get your next year off to a flying start
- Get a head start on the competition with counter cycle recruiting
- Don’t forget to target passive candidates too
Make full use of your recruitment budget
If your recruitment budget expires at the end of December, make sure you use it and don’t lose it. It’s always a good idea to make sure you’re not letting any money go to waste.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your budget in a hurry, try JOIN’s “Smart Spend” feature. It takes performance data from thousands of premium job ads to set up a recruitment strategy that spends your budget where it will get the best results.
Find out how JOIN can help you promote your job ads.
Get your next year off to a flying start
Smart recruiters know that December is the new January. While most companies are fighting for candidates’ attention in the new year, they’re onboarding their hires and getting to work.
Because candidates tend to be speaking to more companies, it can take longer to hire in January. Your time would be better spent setting your new hires up with everything they need to help your company grow.
However, recruiting in December can be tricky as the employees you rely on to coordinate interviews and agree on a candidate may not all be around at the same time. Luckily, JOIN can help. Our applicant tracking system (ATS) makes it easy for you to organise your hiring team. Share notes and make a decision together, all in one place.
Find out more about how JOIN makes it easy to manage your recruitment process.
Get a head start on the competition with counter cycle recruiting
There are plenty of fantastic talents out there actively looking for their next job. In January, there’s going to be a lot of competition for their services, so why not go for them now? Get a jump on your competition by snapping up the best active candidates while your competitors are still winding down for Christmas.
Counter cycle recruiting is where a company actively recruits during a quieter period to take advantage of the lack of competition. Make it a part of your recruitment strategy by recruiting in December.
A job offer now is usually better than the potential for a job offer later. Because of this, candidates that are actively looking for work can often be recruited for lower starting salaries now than in January.
If you want to take full advantage of counter cycle recruiting, make sure you’re pushing your job ad to the right job boards. Find out how to find the perfect job boards for your needs.
Don’t forget to target passive candidates too
The turn of the year is typically a time of introspection, change, and personal growth. Many great candidates who weren’t actively looking for a new job might be open to new opportunities. This can also be a financially draining time of year, so many candidates will be especially open to better-paid opportunities.
These passive candidates are especially interested in the opportunities for growth within your company, so make sure that your job ad and recruitment materials highlight the capacity for long-term development if they join you. For more information, take a look at our glossary entry on passive candidates.
Make sure that your job ad and company profiles also highlight the particular culture of your company, and your attractive benefits package, to help entice candidates considering a new role in the new year. Recruitment is marketing, so make sure your employee value proposition is up to scratch.
For all the help you need attracting both active and passive candidates, check out our guide on how to write a good job ad.
Don’t make the mistake of writing December off as a wasted month for recruitment. Take advantage of the favourable market and snap up the best active and passive candidates while your competitors are busy thinking about what they’re getting for Christmas.
